Reading Programs, Youth Clinics Put Kids First in MLB Partner League
A Major League debut by former Milwaukee Milkmen star Bryan Torres, reading programs and youth clinics accentuating the community-based nature of American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) and its teams highlight the happenings around the league this week. All games are as always available free for live viewing on AABaseball.tv.
Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the AAPB this week:
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- After 11 minor-league seasons, including an amazing two-year run with the Milkmen, Bryan Torres made his Major League debut for the Cardinals, which included a home run, on Saturday. He became the 62nd former AAPB player to play in an MLB game.
- In addition to Torres, nine other AAPB alumni are currently on big-league rosters:
- Anthony Bender, Miami (Sioux City 2019, Milwaukee 2020)
- Brennan Bernardino, Colorado (Winnipeg 2018)
- Jake Cousins, Los Angeles (NL) (Chicago 2020)
- J.C. Escarra, New York (AL) (Kansas City 2022)
- Peyton Gray, Texas (Milwaukee 2020, 2022-23)
- Jared Koenig, Milwaukee (Salina, Pecos League 2017)
- Chris Martin, Texas (Grand Prairie 2010)
- Max Scherzer, Toronto (Fort Worth 2007)
- Caleb Thielbar, Chicago (NL) (St. Paul 2001, 2016-17)
- plus Carlos Mendoza (Manager, New York-NL) (Pensacola 2006)
- There are at least 59 other AAPB alums in the affiliated minors. Notably this week:
- Blue Jays RHP Nate Garkow (Sioux Falls ’22) was promoted from Double-A New Hampshire to Triple-A Buffalo.
- Mets OF J.T. Benson (Lake Country ’24) was promoted from Low-A St. Lucie to High-A Brooklyn.
- The contract of former Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks pitcher Jake Dykhoff has been transferred to the Baltimore Orioles organization. He is the only qualified RedHawks pitcher with an ERA under 2.00 since the team joined the American Association in 2011.
- Eric Lin became the second Chicago Dogs pitcher to have his contract transferred in a week, as he was picked up by the first-place Tampa Bay Rays
- Speaking of rosters, California is the home state of the most AAPB players on opening day, with 34, followed by Texas (33), Illinois (19) and Florida (14). Oklahoma State University and TCU have the most alums in the league with four each, while nine colleges are represented by three players apiece.
- The Kansas City Monarchs recently announced Monty’s All-Star Reading Program, This program will help young fans earn tickets, simply by reading books. Not to be outdone, Sioux City is connecting with the Siouxland Libraries for its reading program that began on Friday.
- Sioux Falls will host a free youth clinic on June 6 from 9-11 a.m. at The Birdcage, with hands-on instruction and drills fior kids ages 5-12, open to all skill levels.
- The Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association will sponsor Women Take the Field, set for 5:30-8:30 p.m. June 15 at US Steel Yard when Gary SouthShore hosts Chicago.
- The Kane County Cougars’ charter bus burned down on last week’s trip to Winnipeg. Fortunately, no one was injured.
- Media interest in AAPB remains strong. Some of the recent articles on teams include:
- MyKidList suggests a Kane County Cougars game as a fun activity “…to Guarantee Summer 2026 is an Incredible One”
- The Winnipeg Free Press noted the turnaround the Goldeyes have made on the young season. The paper also highlighted the team’s diversity of cultures within its roster.
- InWeekly had this feature on the Kansas City Monarchs and new owner Quint Studer.
- The Dockhounds may have been on an extended road trip, but that didn’t keep Lake Country fans away from the ballpark as the team opened the yard for an all-day inflatable event over the weekend, as CBS58 reported.
- Milwaukee’s TMJ4 had a story on the couple behind Duesterbeck’s Brewing, available on tap at the Milkmen’s Franklin Field.
- A few team promotions of note are:
- The Clash Drumline returns to Kane County for its second appearance of the season on Saturday.
- Sioux Falls will host “Strikeout the Stigma” with Emily’s Hope on Saturday, dedicated to raising awareness around mental health and substance use disorder.
- The Red River Valley Fair is a Fargo fan favorite, and RedHawks game attendees tonight will get a free ticket to check it out.
- It’s Halloween in May on Saturday as the Chicago Dogs encourage fans to dress in their favorite costumes Saturday
- It’s a celebration of all-American, all-can domestic beers at the SouthShore RailCats’ American Beer Fest on Sunday
- Lake Country will host Mental Health Awareness Day on Sunday in conjunction with Rogers Behavioral Health
About the American Association of Professional Baseball
The American Association of Professional Baseball (www.aabaseball.com) and (www.aabaseball.tv) is a Major League Baseball Partner League that operates in nine states and one Canadian province. Formed in 2006, the league consists of twelve member clubs with many beginning play in 1993. Through the 2025 season, 483 player contracts have been transferred to MLB organizations. To date, 62 AAPB alumni have reached the Majors, including 17 participating in 2025.
– AAPB –
Contact:
Joe Favorito, joefavorito2@gmail.com, 917-566-8345
Jerry Milani, jerry@jerrymilani.com, 917-797-5663
